Building Blocks A Road to Creativity for Autism

Be creative.  Think outside the box.  Find a new way to do the same thing. Use your imagination.  These are the mantras that I grew up with as a child of Sesame Street, Polka-Dot Door, and various other children's shows from the 70's and 80's.  From an early age we were encouraged to be creative in our approaches.  Sometimes it was successful, and other times these creative methods would fail miserably.  But in the end, life would be varied, and new situations were seen as challenges, not road blocks. 

But for some people, such as those with Autism, creativity is not something that breeds comfort.  In fact, it can be a source of irritation and frustration when things change, because the necessary creativity needed to deal with new situations does not come easily. 

To overcome this problem, researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center used a common toy from my child-hood:  lego blocks.  They started with children on the spectrum using the blocks to build their standard structures.  Then using Applied Behavior Analysis, they were able to help these children start using their blocks in more creative ways.  They no longer looked at this same task as a series of memorized steps, but as a process that could be altered for a different outcome. 

The importance in creativity in daily life is clear:  new situations need to be dealt with, and the more creative the solution the easier the stress of the new event can be managed.  Also, tedious tasks can be better handled, adding an enriching level to life. 

So, if you are thinking of a Christmas toy that could be helpful for your child with Austism, think of building blocks.  Then sit down with them and build.  Try making changes, being part of the process, and give lots of praise.  These steps can help your child express creatively, and therefore open new horizons. 

Autism and Holiday Travel: Planning Ahead

The holidays are always stressful, particularly during travel.  Add to that a child with Autism, and your travel plans become more complicated.  In the past we have traveled by air with our son, and for a two hour flight it was just manageable.  But that has all changed now with the new TSA screening and enhanced pat-downs. 

I've always been concerned with air travel for families with children on the Autism Spectrum.  Past airlines have removed parents and their children with Autism, or even autistic adults from flights whether or not they are having a melt down.  And while some airlines have reached out to the Autistic community by providing mock flights to help their children get comfortable with the idea of flying (thank you Southwest Airlines), a parent is never sure when they will get an understanding crew or have the trip turn into a nightmare.

But add to that the new invasive TSA regulations that seem to require strip searching children, flying is now nearly impossible for the autistic family.  So that means, for any traveling you may be planning for the coming season, you will need to plan early and find other means of transportation. 

Car travel is probably the most common alternative form of transportation, and is perhaps the easiest to deal with in terms of a child with Autism.  Most often the child is already used to riding in a car, and there are a number of activities and devices that can help make the travel more manageable. 

But traveling by car isn't the only option, depending on where you live.  There are also trains through much of the East coast, some of the West Coast, and through select cities moving East to West across the nation.  Trains tend to be a nice alternative to flying because children can move about freely without needing to be strapped down and restrained.  For those who are not able to drive or take a train, long distance busses can be a great way to travel.

But before I put you off completely to flying, check your options, and call ahead to your departure and arrival airports and see if they have policies in place to make your travel with an autistic child more comfortable.  Often times just taking the initiative can diffuse a lot of trouble, and letting everyone know that your child has autism and therefore needs some options that do not over stimulate the child can help. 

If any of you are traveling with a child on the Spectrum, let us know what your experience is, whether on the train, plane, or automobile. 

Making the Effort: Low-key Santa Event at a Mall

In Montgomery County in Florida, they Dayton Mall set aside one day, November 21st, for their Sensitive Santa event, allowing children with disabilities to meet Santa in a sensory-friendly environment.  The event will last from 9 AM to 11 AM, and the kids even get a picture with Santa if they want.

For most children with Autism a visit to the Mall during Christmas time is a sensory overload.  Add to that a long wait in line to meet Santa, and the impatience of others in line can increase the anxiety of a child with Autism, leading very quickly to a meltdown. 

I find it commendable that the Dayton Mall would set aside a day before the hectic shopping season marked by Black Friday to children with Autism.  I hope that others in the community can see this example and duplicate it, making the holiday experience that much more enjoyable for everyone, even those on the spectrum. 

Skin Cell Research: Identifying Genetic Proof to Autism

While the argument between environment and genetics wage on in the blogosphere, researchers at the University of California, San Diego have found an interesting way to test genes:  reprogram skin cells into stem cells and regrow them at neurons.  The research is interesting, and is found in the journal Cell.

Essentially, they took skin cell samples from children with Rett syndrome, which is on the Autism Spectrum.  They then reprogrammed the skin cells using pluripotent stem cells to regrow into neurons that were functional.  So, a brain in a dish (and who said cartoons were outrageous!).  They then noticed that the Rett cells grew with fewer neuron synapses and had a reduced spine density, while those from the control group had increased neuron synapses and spine density.  All because of a change in the MeCP2 gene. 

So what does this mean?  It means Rett syndrome is not caused by bad parenting or by environmental stimuli.  It's caused by a gene, one gene, that controls brain neuron growth and spine density.  Environmental causes, vaccines, monosodium glutamate, too much TV, parents who don't care about their kids, it's all been shown as false by this one test. 

And what's even more exciting is that the Rett neurons could be "rescued" by the change of the MeCP2 gene, adding the IGF1 gene, and gentamicin.  That on existing cells, not at the developmental stage.  That means, given time to produce this properly, there could be treatment for Rett syndrome. 

But, before we get ahead of ourselves, Rett syndrome isn't Aspergers, or PPD, or any of the other conditions on the Autism Spectrum.  It's just one condition of many.  Remember that Autism in and of itself is not a medical definition (meaning that it is caused by one thing, like say the flu), but rather a psychological definition applied based on a string of behaviors.  While this treatment would work for Rett syndrome, I wouldn't expect it to work for Fragile-X syndrome (which also has Autism-like behaviors). 

Instead, I see this as a positive sign, and yet another reason why insurance companies need to start covering Autism as both a diagnosis, and provide support for treatment.  Because there could soon be a medical treatment that will assist individuals on the Autism Spectrum, and they need to get behind it. 

Near Field Communication on the iPhone: Is It Really Such A Good Idea?

Recently the Cult of Mac (and other Apple rumor sites) have mentioned the recent patents made by Apple to include Near Field Communication (NFC) in the next iPhone for security and remote computing options for coming Macintosh computers.  On the surface, this sounds like a great idea.  All you have to do is have your iPhone near your computer, or any Macintosh for that matter, and you would instantly be able to log into your computer with all your preferences and settings available.  Who wouldn't want to avoid having to log into their computer constantly?

But there is a problem:  security.  Near Field Communication uses a high-frequency RFID token, which is easily picked up by various devices.  This is called eavesdropping, and makes NFC an insecure method of transmitting personal information, such as login tokens.  The only way to guarantee security would be to utilize an authentication method like Kerberos, where keys are generated and expire after short periods of time, and you have a token that can decrypt the information.  This means an extensive Directory system running in the background. 

Of course, Apple is building a huge data center.  And it's possible to add the layer into the Apple ID system, which would guarantee anyone with an iTunes account would have access.  This may be why Apple is working so hard in the background, and why we haven't heard anything like this before. 

But other suppositions to the NFC technology has been remote banking and payment using RFID.  There are some credit and debit cards that have this capability, but due to the relative ease of eavesdropping, I do not own one nor intend to own one.  They are not very secure, and I would prefer that information not be available.

Other applications would be remote access to physical space.  When I worked for eBay, we used an RFID card to access the building.  I've also thought of using the same technology for access to my house.  Having an RFID transmitter in my iPhone, which I am never without, would be convenient.  But there is still that issue with eavesdropping.

So where does this leave us?  I don't think it's impossible for Apple to make this plunge, or to do it well.  But I do think that Apple has a lot of security concerns to overcome before this can be a reality.  And if I do end up with an iPhone in the distant future that has NFC capabilities, I would definitely not use it for remote payment from a bank account.

Discontinued Xserve: What Could It Mean?

Just last week Apple announced their intention to discontinue the Apple Xserve, the one Enterprise-class server that Apple developed.  While Xserves were not exactly selling off the shelves, it did come as a shock for those of us who have been working with Enterprise deployments of the Mac into a network.  Many Apple Certified Trainers were upset, because Mac OS X Server represents a significant focus for the Information Technology classes.  But is it really that serious?

In October of 2008 Tom Krazit from CNET news notes the hiring of Mark Papermaster, an IBM chip designer and Blade Server specialist, as a sign that Apple could be developing a blade server.  Apple has been focusing on small, low power computing devices quite a lot recently, and these devices have high processing output with minimal power consumption.  It would be ideal for blade servers, if applied in that direction.

But there are other suppositions that Tom Krazit threw out, such as a focus on better cloud technologies for the Mac platform.  This would also be ideal, as devices like the iPad have proven that, given the proper app, a tablet can do almost everything a workstation can, and is by far more portable. 

But where does that leave Apple and the Servers they currently have?  Well, assuming Apple does not create a reasonable replacement for the Xserve, something like a blade server, they will always have the Mac Mini Server and the Mac Pro Server.  Both would be considered more like a small business or home server, but the technologies built in (OpenLDAP, Kerberos, RADIUS, etc.) all have Enterprise applications. 

So while it's a little concerning that Apple had gotten rid of the Xserve, I'm not fretting too much.  Instead, I'm looking to the future with expectant announcements on more enterprise level support, and in the mean time like to point out that six Mac Mini Servers can fit in the same space as the Xserve did. 

They Are Just Wired That Way: Autism Risk and the CNTNAP2 Gene

Reuters has run a story about an article published in Science Translational Medicine, regarding the CNTNAP2 gene and the related brain growth patterns that result from it.  The study took  32 children and scanned them with an MRI while doing learning related tasks.  Half had autism, and the other half did not.  They found children with the CNTNAP2 gene had stronger brain connections in the frontal lobe, and weaker connections to the rest of the brain or and almost no connections throughout the brain.  So, essentially, the frontal lobe did a lot of talking, but just to itself. 

What is really interesting about this gene is that over 1/3 of the population carries this gene, and have similar brain wiring as those with Autism.  So the gene itself did not cause Autism, but it does identify one particular key to the Autistic mind:  all the children with Autism had this gene variant.  So the gene has been labeled a risk gene, and not necessarily an Autism gene.

But if it's not a cause for Autism, why is it so important?  Because it gives scientists a glimpse at how the brain wires itself, and how genes affect the wiring process.  By working with genes like CNTNAP2 and other potential Autism genes, scientists are able to better identify cause and effect.  It's possible that targeted genetic treatments can be used to both identify autism at an early age, and perhaps treat more severe forms of Autism. 

So, it's an interesting study, and one that I think has merit.  Let's hope more good work like this is found. 

Simple Steps Autism: The Future of ABA Applications

Currently it is estimated that the average family of a child with autism needs to pay between $28,000 to $36,000 a year for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.  Most parents cannot afford this in the current economic climate, and most insurance companies do not cover the Autism diagnosis, let alone ABA therapy. 

But that isn't the only problem.  There is a growing number of children being diagnosed with Autism, so many in fact that current services could be overwhelmed in a matter of years.  This means Behavior Therapists are in desperate need, and there are not enough to go around.  How do we deal with the growing number of children in need of therapy, and finite resources?

In previous posts I have called for services to help parents learn ABA techniques to help their own children.  Someone must have heard, because sites like http://simplestepsautism.com are starting to show themselves.  These sites help parents learn how to not only cope with having a child with autism in the family, but also learn how they can help their child with autism become a productive citizen by learning necessary social behaviors. 

The benefit here is that with parents getting involved, guided by certified ABA therapists, you instantly have a broader base of support and therapy for children and adults with autism, and therefore a broader base for success.  It is success guaranteed with parents and caregivers getting involved with their child's learning.  I know this is kind of a new concept in today's society, more's the pity. 

So I commend the folks at SimpleSteps for their desire to broaden the support base to parents and not just therapists.  The only thing that is currently discouraging is the price tag that comes with the service.  But perhaps private donations, organizations, or Government grants can be made available to lower those costs and make such useful, beneficial services available to the families that need them but cannot afford them.

NaNoWriMo and the iPad: The Reasons, and The Apps

Yet again National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is coming, and thousands of prospective novelists are limbering their fingers, oiling their typewriters, booting their computers, and outlining their ideas for novels.  The goal: write a novel during the month of November that is at least 50,000 words long. 

The goal itself is daunting enough, but many who have completed such tasks in the past are looking to a new tool as a new challenge:  the iPad. 

Why the iPad?  Well, some want to use it to prove it can be done.  Others like it because it is naturally distraction free:  with only one app on the screen you can't be easily distracted by email notifications, twitter updates, chats, and an internet waiting to siphon your attention and productivity by reading the latest in Hollywood scandals or political gaffs from the Left and Right.  Instead, you have just your writing and maybe music fighting for your attention.  And in case you were wondering, I'm all for the second reason. 

So, in the spirit of NaNoWriMo, I thought I would outline five apps that would be considered useful in completing such a daunting task on such a tiny platform. 

1. Idea Sketch (Free, iPhone/iPad):  Idea Sketch is a mind mapping tool, used to outline concepts and build flow charts based on these ideas.  It's very useful for building your concept, working out general plot ideas, etc.  If you are into mind mapping, this is a very useful app to have.
   


2. Adobe Ideas (Free, iPhone/iPad):  Perhaps working with a mind mapping tool isn't your cup of tea?  What's that, you would rather draw it out?  Well, Adobe Ideas is a general sketch pad that is done very well.  You can use your finger as a pencil, drawing out your links, sketches, doodles, and erase what you don't like. 
   


3. Index Card ($4.99, iPad):  Another method to organize your ideas in sequential order would be to throw them onto index cards pinned to a cork board.  Don't have one handy?  Well, use Index Card.  You can build your ideas, rearrange them when necessary, and then export the new draft outline in RTF form to Dropbox.  From there you can pull it into your editor, or copy and paste the whole document into your editor to get started writing.  The UI was inspired by Scrivener for Mac OS X, which is perhaps the best writing tool for the Macintosh I could find.
   


4. Pages ($9.99, iPad): So now you have your magnum opus ready, and need to throw it down into words.  Here is where the newest version of Pages is very handy:  it includes word count.  No longer are you required to guess at the number of words!  This is a long waited-for feature, making Pages now a very useful tool for novelists on the iPad.
   


5. My Writing Nook ($4.99, iPhone/iPad):  Need a little more structure to your writing?  Need to jump from section to section quickly for those pesky rewrites?  Don't want to shell out more cash than is necessary for a good writing app?  My Writing Nook may be the app for you.  You can't do anything fancy with the text, but then when writing a novel, why would you?  This app allows you to break down your novel into sections, making it easy to jump through the project and write what you are inspired to write instead of what is sequentially next in line. 

I have four of the five, opting for Pages as my writing medium (for a novel and many other projects), but I would still recommend My Writing Nook for hard-core novelists. 

Are you planning on using the iPad for your NaNoWriMo project?  If so, you have just 5 days from today to work on the outline of the novel before you need to write those first words, so I would highly recommend you start.  Find the apps you like, start with your novel plan, and happy writing! 

Hallowe'en and Autism

The holidays can be very stressful for a child with Autism, as decorations and different behaviors start to change the routine of the child.  Hallowe'en can be very stressful because of the need to interact in order to participate. 

But it doesn't have to be very stressful, as long as you have time to prepare your child.  The folks at Rethink Autism have provided a free video for families to help their child prepare to wear a costume, go trick or treating, or even hand out candy if they want.  The tips are grounded in the ABA methodology, and help by modifying the child's behavior gradually. 

If you would like your child to participate, these tips may be helpful. 

Mac OS 10.7 Wish List

It's been a while since I've created a wish list for an Apple product, but with the rumor that Mac OS X 10.7 Lion being given a sneak peek on Wednesday, I thought I would throw up a quick wish list. 

1. iCal Fix:  I've had trouble with some Exchange calendars within iCal.  I would like that fixed.  I've been looking for a fix with each subsequent minor update, but it's not been there.  I really want this to happen, even with the debut of Outlook for Mac in Office 2011.
   


2. FaceTime:  This will probably happen anyway, but it would be nice to have it on the Mac. 
   


3. Broader File System Support:  I want to be able to browse ext3 files, and have read-write access already built in for NTFS, ext3, etc.  It would make working in a mixed environment that much easier.
   


4. VDI Support:  I've been researching a lot of virtual desktop infrastructure solutions, and it would be nice to have such a solution available for the Mac.  Right now the best option is NetBoot with a network-shared Applications folder.  There has to be a better way, making it possible to run apps on a lot of other platforms.  Particularly I would like to see a VDI solution that would incorporate the iPad.  This would probably be a server application.
   


5. Run iOS Apps in Dashboard:  This would be cool, though I'm not sure it would be necessary.  It would be nice to be able to download your iOS app and test it out before throwing it on your phone/iPad, as well as have access to all your iOS apps on your desktop when necessary.
   


6. Cloud Support:  This means different things for different people.  For me, it means accessing stored files easier using your cloud repository (like Dropbox), accessing cloud-provided applications (like XenApp), and cloud-provided desktops. 
   


7. Touch Support:  With the touch pad, the Magic Mouse, and similar things, I see multi-touch becoming very important to Apple. It has been their signature for the iOS devices, and I see it coming to to the Mac more than it already is. 

So that's my list for now.  I'm sure there are other things that would be cool too, but for now these are the 7 things I think would be nice to have with Mac OS 10.7.  We shall see what Apple has in store for us on Wednesday!

FDA Finally Cracks Down On Chelation Supplements

Autism is one of those conditions that have gathered together a lot of snake oil salesmen to peddle their wares at the detriment of the recipient.  And the FDA has finally said they have had enough.

As reported by the Chicago Tribune, the FDA is now cracking down on over the counter chelators that are being sold as "nutritional supplements" and cures for autism.  The Tribune has been running quite a few stories on chelation and autism, and this story shows the power of awareness and how it sets investigations in process.  8 chelator vendors were contacted by the FDA on top of the OSR#1 investigation, all notified that their products were in violation of Federal Law.  Apparently chelators were being peddled as not only cures for Autism, but also heart disease. 

As reported by the Tribune, some peddlers claimed the FDA was "stupid", as they did not consider the drug as it was peddled to be dangerous, or so claimed Ron Partain, a pharmacist from Palm Desert, California.  Richard Brooks, of Hormonal Health in San Bernardino, California, also claimed "the products are safe."  Others either said they were not contacted, or declined to comment to the Tribune. 

So who is right?  The FDA, or the peddlers?  Let's look at the facts.  Chelation, as defined by the Princeton WordNet Search, is "the process of removing a heavy metal from the bloodstream by means of a chelate as in treating lead or mercury poisoning."  Chelates , according to Wikipedia, form bonds around the heavy metals, deactivating the ions so the metals cannot react with other molecules, and makes it easier to pass the heavy metal out of the body. 

The problem is, if someone is treated with a chelate without an actual need, it can cause death.  The human body needs certain trace amounts of heavy metals to function, which we ideally get through our diet.  Should these metals get purged through unnecessary chelation, critical bodily functions can shut down causing death.  That alone should warrant caution.

But we still have the question, should we trust the Government, or trust Business?  In the US we have little trust of either, because both have within recent history (within the past 50 years, and from both Political Parties I might add) been prone to misdirection in one form or another. 

Personally (authors opinion follows), I feel that the Government has less interest in forming a conspiracy to "cause" children to develop autism, as it can become quite a burden on Federal and State agencies.  Business, on the other hand, particularly those with little understanding of what they are peddling, are more prone to justify products as safe when it brings significant profitability. 

But I prefer to take both interests into account, and instead look to the Science.  Clinical evidence points to genetic causes for Autism, not environmental causes.  Therefore a drug that is designed to remove environmental contaminants is inappropriate for such a condition.  As such, whether you believe chelation is safe for consumption is irrelevant, as the condition does not warrant the treatment. 

Still, anything that keeps these wrongfully targeted "supplements" out of the stores and away from vulnerable patients or parents of patients is welcome. 

Statistics, Reporting, and Flaws: Caution about Jaundice-Autism Link

Recently Danish researchers published in Pediatrics a link between Jaundice and Autism in infants, based on statistical data gathered.  The data suggests a link between children who are born with Jaundice (a yellowing of the skin at birth due to red blood cells dying) and those children with that condition who were subsequently diagnosed with Autism.  The research found that 67% of those children born with jaundice subsequently developed autism. Sounds pretty convincing, right?  Let's look at the numbers first.

Statistics is a simple comparison of data to determine relationships, whether or not any real relationships exist.  In this case, the statistical relationship suggests causation, but that is not what is happening (as I'm sure the researchers would agree).

Currently, one in every 78 boys are diagnosed with Autism in the US and in the UK.  That's almost 25% of the population of boys.  Children in general come in at 1 in every 98 (though there could be more girls who are going undiagnosed, according to other surveys run), which makes it comfortably within the 1% of all children.

Now, according to the Children's Liver Disease Foundation's pamphlet on Jaundice in the new born baby, 90% of all new born babies get jaundice.  So figuring that out of every 100 babies, 90 will have jaundice, and out of those same 100 babies, one will have Autism, it doesn't quite match the research. 

So, why doesn't it match?  Is there a problem with the research, or a problem with the numbers?  The statistics were taken from a baby population of over 733,000.  It represents the results from that statistical demographic, which could in some way apply to the world population as a whole.  Instead, it's quite possible it is one of two things:

1.  There is a link, and Autism rates will be going up based on diagnosis.  But the research is not calling this certain, but rather posing a question that needs to be answered with more research. 

2.  It's just a coincidence that happened to show within this demographic, and is not indicative of the overall population of children with jaundice, or children with Autism.  I'm leaning to this conclusion, if for no other reason than the disparity of numbers and lack of additional research.

Ultimately, it just means the medical community has a lot more research to do on Autism and biological links to the condition.  If you had a baby that got jaundice within days of being born, don't panic.  While it never hurts to learn more about Autism from reputable sources, your child's jaundice is not necessarily indicative of your child developing Autism.  Look beyond the news hype, and look for the facts that will eventually be shown in additional clinical research.

Savory Energy Bars: "Italian" Hard Tack

Recently I was talking with a buddy of mine about meals and, more importantly, packaged meals, when he bemoaned the fact that most of your energy or meal replacement bars are sweet.  In fact, there are quite a few bars out there, and they tend to be held together with sugar, or covered in chocolate.  Being a fan of savory, we talked about possible solutions for meal replacement bars that were not sugar bombs. 

Well, this weekend I thought I would give it a try.  I had most of the ingredients already and I wanted to see if it were possible.  So Saturday, before going to dinner, I thought I would throw it together, and here is the recipe:

2    cups    all purpose flour
2    cups    bread crumbs
1/2 cup      corn meal
1/2 cup      oatmeal
4    tbsp     tomato paste
2    tbsp     Parmesan cheese, grated
4    tbsp     italian seasoning
2    tbsp     garlic powder
1    tsp       Kosher salt
1.5 cups    water

I first combined all the dry ingredients and mixed them together well.  I then added the tomato paste and cut it into the dry mix, and added the water so that it would just bind it together.  I then kneaded it together well, and rolled it into a log of about 3 inches thick.  Once rolled out, I cut it into 32 pieces, and baked it for 30 minutes at 350 degrees (could have been longer if I wanted it less chewy and more like a cracker). 

The next day I had two pieces with a large glass of water, and found them very filling.  Two or three fills up quite well, and the flavor is decent.  This isn't a cookie, but there is quite a bit of sweetness in the tomato that it's almost like eating a pizza crust with just the sauce.  And each piece is just 71 calories.  It's nice because I can use this little bar to satisfy those tomato soup cravings I get occasionally, without having to cook anything up.

The recipe was adapted from a hard tack recipe that I found online here. 

Flash, iOS, and Android: The Real Future of Flash as I See It

There was a lot of debate earlier in the year about the future of the Flash platform.  It was assumed that Flash would die a slow death because Apple had deliberately blocked Flash movies and files from running directly on their iOS platforms.  Arguments have been running back and forth between Flash developers, Apple haters, Android lovers, Apple zealots, and just about everyone that wants to add their voice to, in my opinion, a narrow-minded argument. 

Those that predicted the death of Flash didn't see the forest for the trees.  Sure, there are thousands of videos out there that were encoded in the Flash Player, and many of those videos are being ported to the MPEG 4 format.  Sure HTML 5 is able to perform many of the same tasks that Flash was able to do, as does PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby, and a number of other programming languages.  But the one thing that everyone didn't take into account was what Flash as a developing platform does:  takes content and packages it for distribution. 

So when Adobe announced the Packager for iPhone, it was pretty much lost in the news, until Apple said they wouldn't allow apps from the platform (or other similar platforms).  That was the case, until September 2010, when Apple changed their app submission restrictions, now allowing Flash to be used as a development platform, or even Adobe AIR. 

But how is this even possible?  Because of ActionScript 3, the programming language used by Adobe to give Flash it's flexibility, and Adobe AIR it's powerful platform environment.  One can code an app using Flash or Adobe AIR, and it becomes available for Android, the Desktop, and now the iOS platform. 

Why is this such a big deal?  Because one no longer needs to learn Java (Android and desktop) and Objective-C (iOS) to do the same thing.  You can write it all in ActionScript 3 and distribute it across the board with minimal changes for each iteration. 

It looks like the power of Flash is finally going beyond the browser, and into the native environment for your mobile devices.  No more worries about battery life or whether or not everything is supported:  it's all native, it all works within the platform.  I wouldn't be surprised if Adobe built in a packager for HTML 5 within Flash and AIR.  They have shown versatility necessary to keep their developer tools relevant in an increasingly mobile world. 

For future suggestions, perhaps a packager for Windows Phone 7 (assuming it pans out), Blackberry's new OS, and MeeGo for Nokia?  That would make Flash and Adobe AIR an extremely attractive mobile development platform.

Autism and Sibling Speech Delays

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis released a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry regarding speech delay patterns of siblings of children with Autism, as reported by Physorg.com.  The report shows a higher number of siblings of children with autism have speech delay when compared to siblings of neurotypical children.

The implications are that children who have a sibling with autism are more likely to show speech delay, whether that sibling is older or younger than the child with autism.  Therefore, the speech delay can show a propensity for autism, though not severe enough for the direct diagnosis.  It also shows that some girls with similar traits may even be considered "autistic," even though the diagnosis was not given to them, therefore showing a possible narrowing in the gender differences in autism diagnosis.

So why is it important?  The current scientific theory that has actually been proven through clinical studies (as apposed to many other claims) is that autism is genetic, resulting from a number of genes, any one of them can cause autistic symptoms to show at some level.  The higher the concentration of "autism genes," the more pronounced the behavior.  Siblings may have inherited some genes, but not enough to cause the behavior needed to be diagnosed "autistic". 

It also explains the prevalence of Autism within certain families and along specific genetic lines.  Unlike other yet to be proven theories that suggest environmental stimuli as the cause, genetic traits that are passed on stand out in the research done in this article. 

So that's great to know, but what does it mean for me as a parent of an autistic child?  It means I need to be alert for any signs of Autism in my other child, in order to catch it early, but also take hope in knowing that anything I see, such as delayed speech, could just be a small marker that is quickly overcome.  It's very possible that any sign of autism in my other child could be so mild as to not be diagnosed as Autism.  And, of course, it takes less of the mystery away from Autism, making it less of a scary diagnosis.  The more understanding we have, the better we as parents can cope.  At least, that is what I feel.

Contagious Yawning: A Marker for Autism

Recently published in the September/October issue of Child Development (Volume 81, Nuber 5, Pages 1620-1631), Molly Helt, Inge-Marie Eigsti, Deborah Fein of the University of Connecticut and Peter Snyder of Brown University showed in their article their research regarding yawns and using yawns as a marker for Autism. 

That's right, yawns.  Why yawning?  Because it is what is called an automatic emotional reciprocity behavior, or in other words a way of participating in society's complex emotional environment.  But, unlike many other methods of showing empathy, yawning is a fixed action pattern that is hidden, and once started cannot be stopped.  It's a lot like watching a chain reaction. 

So what is so special about yawns?  Well, children in early years (under the age of 4) often do not yawn contagiously, meaning if someone starts to yawn, they don't yawn in response.  After the age of 4 that starts to become more common, and soon children are participating in the group emotional response of empathetic yawning. 

Unless the child has Autism.  Unlike neuro-typical children, most children with Autism do not participate in contagious yawning, though the cause is unclear.  They also do not participate in most other facial mimicry while watching others (whether on television or in person).  These sort of missed queues make it difficult for a person with Autism to be welcome within a generally social environment. 

So why even bother with yawning?  Because it could be an indicator for Autism without looking for genetic markers in blood (painful), or running MRI scans (scary for children).  The only drawback:  late detection.  You cannot hope to get a positive identification before age 5, by which time many of the benefits of Applied Behavior Analysis has been missed. 

But still, this is just one more piece of the puzzle that helps fill out the behavioral aspects of Autism, and for that I applaud these find researchers.  I recommend reading the research yourself to get a better view of the impact of this research, and what still needs to be accomplished.  Assuming, of course, you can stop yawning, as even reading (or writing, for that matter) the word can cause the fixed action pattern to trigger.  ^_^

Bullying and What To Do About It: Taking Autism Into Account

One thing that frightens me most about my son's schooling is the potential for bullying.  I saw it with my older brother, and often my older brother would be the one getting in trouble for defending himself (hence the reason why I hated Jr. High, and Gym class).  A lot of parents are determined to have their child with Autism mainstreamed.  Others prefer to isolate them within special schools or home-school their children.  The route you take will be completely up to you, but when dealing with Bullying, The Kiowa County Signal has posted ways to deal with it, particularly with children with Autism.

Bullying isn't just hitting kids on the playground.  It's much more insidious than that.  Bullying is harassing children verbally (including texting and instant messages), physically (like forcing them to sit at another table, or move from their spot), or even psychologically (forcing unacceptable and often humiliating behavior, from a person). 

Too often it's too easy for school officials, being human themselves, to dismiss bullying if they can't see it.  Because it often doesn't happen within eye-shot of an authority figure, they fear incriminating another student on "hear-say".  This is understandable, as it underscores the basis of our justice system, innocent until proven guilty (or at least until tried by the media at any rate). 

As a parent, it is also your right to make sure your child, with or without Autism, is in a safe environment.  This starts with contacting the school.  Find out what their anti-bullying policy is, and how it is enforced.  How do they react to reports of bullying, and how is it addressed?  It's important to note that adults in schools are very much out-numbered, and cannot be everywhere at once.  And also losing your temper cannot help any situation.  Accept they are human, and see how you can work with the system. 

But even more important, let them know that your child has Autism, and what that means.  Find out if they are aware of what Autism means, particularly when it comes to psychological bullying.  Do they understand that children with autism are more likely to take things literally, and will often be very trusting of everyone?  Do they know how to recognize a bully leading another child into a bullying situation, using manipulation?  These are crucial to your child's protection, and need to be addressed.

Bullying is a frustrating issue for all concerned.  Often it requires a lot of patience, and sometimes some creative thinking.  Be a help to your school, and I'm sure they will be happy to make any necessary changes to guarantee your child with autism will have a safe learning environment.

Autism Weekend Roundup: Genes and Hollywood

A couple of things showed up in my daily news search about Autism that I thought I would share. 

1.  Another Genetic link to Autism has been found, for 1% of those with autism tested.  The Center for Addiction and Mental Health is reporting that that boys with autism, or at least 1% of those tested, are missing a specific gene, PTCHD1, from their X chromosome they get from their mother.  It is believed that PTCHD1 has a role in the neurobiological pathway that delivers information to cells during brain development.  Girls are shielded, because they have two X chromosomes.  While the numbers are low, it is yet another genetic link for Autism.  I think the gene tally is up to 23 now? 

If you are telling yourself that it's a long shot, keep in mind that Autism is a behavioral diagnosis, not a medical diagnosis.  There are a number of possible causes for the behavior, all having to do with the brain.  That is why there are so many genes that can cause the same or similar behavior. 

2.  Benefit for Autism:  The Associated Press has reported Comedy Central's plans for a star-sudded autism benefit on October 21st.  Steven Colbert, Larry David, Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, Sarah Silverman, Steve Carell, Jimmy Fallon, Tracy Morgan, Joe McHale, John Oliver, Chris Rock, and a number of others are participating. 

This is awesome, and I'm glad so many famous people will be participating in raising funds for autism schools and special programs.  Honestly, there is a reason why I love comedians more than "serious" actors..  Comedians tend to have real hearts, and are not afraid to show it. 

3.  Keeping up with the film industry, AMC has announced plans with the Autism Society of America for a movie night for children with Autism.  There are 126 participating theaters for the event, though the link in the article is broken.  You can find a list of participating theaters here.  If memory serves, AMC did this last year, and my wife and I were upset we found out too late.  Don't miss the event!

Book Review: House Rules by Jodi Picoult

There are a number of books out there about Autism, dealing with autism, managing autism, teaching children with autism, and even how to "cure" autism with fad diets and various misinformation.  It's rare, at least in my experience, for autism to center within fiction. 

House Rules is a book about a family of Jacob Hunt, a child with Aspergers, and his obsession with forensics.  Ultimately it leads to getting involved with the police over a possible murder, and how the police react with an autistic child. 

There are a couple of things I didn't like, such as the declared beliefs that vaccinations cause Autism, that children who are on gluten-free and cassein-free diets can be "cured", and that various highly expensive supplements can "cure" autism.  What's interesting is that the author doesn't say he was cured, but rather his behavior became more manageable. 

Oh, and I solved the crime about 33% into the book (but still was riveted to the book).

What I did like was the portrayal of Jacob's thought process as a person with Aspergers.  The family experiences, the daily routine, the overall atmosphere that is Autism within a family.  It's very familiar, and I find it absolutely fascinating. 

I also loved the writing style.  Often, when I don't enjoy a book, it's because of the writing style.  Jodi Picoult did a fabulous job on this book, and should be commended for her writing style.  It was very similar to a serial story, one you would read in a magazine because of the way it was separated into different voices.  Different points of view, from the police detective, the lawyer, the mother, the younger brother, and Jacob himself were all illuminating. 

Ultimately, as Jodi Picoult stated on her website, was to outline how the justice system would react to typical behaviors in someone with Autism, specifically with Aspergers.  I think she did a fantastic job, and would highly recommend the book to anyone in the Justice System, Police, Sheriff's Department, and any parent with a child who has Autism.  It can be found on Amazon, Simon&Schulsters, or any fine book store. 

Thank you Liesl, for your recommendation.